Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Perhaps you are preparing to send out holiday cards and
invitations. I hope so; I love getting mail (hint, hint). Here are some tips on
handling your family’s last name. I know, it's not really vocabulary, but it's important.

1. Are
you just saying “Happy ChrisKwanzHannuNewYear from the Smiths”? Then all you need
is a PLURAL. Follow these steps:

A.Add
-s to your last name, as I did for the Smiths.

Examples: The Turners. The Simons. The Gagas.

B.…unless
your last name ends in an -s sound already, as in the letters s, z, x, ch, or sh. Then add -es, just like you would for any word like that, such as boxes or glitches.

Examples: The Lucases, The Schwartzes, The Foxes, The Fitches, The Galoshes.
(I couldn’t think of a last name that ended in -sh.)

C.NEVER,
under any circumstances use an apostrophe!!!

2. However,
are you saying or implying something about your home? Welcome to the Smiths’, for
example? That’s really “welcome to the Smiths’ HOME,” and in that case, you
MUST use an apostrophe to create a PLURAL POSSESSIVE. The apostrophe goes after the plural formed above, in part 1.

Examples:

You’re invited to the Flatts’ annual Egg
Nog Fest.

Please come help us decorate the tree at
the Hugheses’.

Welcome to the Millses’!

WRAP UP: It’s that simple: add -s or -es; only add an apostrophe when
referring to your home (or something else your family possesses). Happy